THE GOLDEN RULE REVISITED

TUESDAY, 26 JUNE 2007
Gospel Reading: Matthew 7:6, 12-14

The Golden Rule! “Treat others the way you would like them to treat you.” Who hasn’t heard that rule? Oh, I suppose there are some people in the world who have not heard it that well put, but I’ll bet the idea usually enters into everyone’s mind some way or other. Most might not know it was said by Jesus, but you and I know it. And because it was said by Jesus, because we know it, we have little excuse for ever ignoring it. Right? Then why do we?

I guess there may be many reasons. One might be that we are sometimes very frightened and we will do anything to protect ourselves, even if that means our protection will be at someone else’s expense. If fear leads us to mistreating someone else, then our faith and trust in God is placed in doubt. We don’t believe sufficiently that God is able to take care of us, that he wants to take care of us, that he will take care of us. But for his care to get through, we must leave him an opening, which is done only when we try to treat others well. Mistreat them and we close the door to God. We shut him out and leave room only for ourselves and our own ways. His ways we reject.

Be careful of fear. It is helpful at times, like when we cross the street, but it can also be destructive. It can lead us to harm others; it can make us ignore God. Treat others as you would like them to treat you, and you’ll find God the best Treater of all.